Eagletarian Blog

Updating: The Eagles almost scored a momentum-grabbing touchdown just before the half, but after an extremely lengthy review, Shady McCoy's knee was ruled down short of the goalline. The Eagles then called timeout with 23 seconds left, fourth and goal.

What happened after that isn't clear. FOX replays show Kevin Kolb running onto the field with 11 seconds left on the play clock. Eventually, the Eagles were called for delay of game, right after King Dunlap was announced as a tackle eligible in his usual goalline role as an extra blocker on the end. Andy Reid argued animatedly with several officials, apparently contending that the play clock was not set correctly coming out of the timeout. It was not a long timeout.

No explanation of the penalty has been provided. The Eagles settled for a 23-yard David Akers field goal and a 17-6 halftime deficit, with Reid still making his point to the striped shirts.

Donovan McNabb is 6 for 8 for 115 yards and a touchdown, for a 156.2 passer rating. Kolb is also 6 for 8, for just 66 yards and a 99.0 passer rating. Michael Vick, in the locker room with a rib problem, was 5 for 7 for 49 yards and a 90.8 passer rating.

McCoy has 6 catches for 72 yards.

Earlier: It's shaping up as a tough afternoon at the Linc, with the Redskins up 17-3 after three possessions and Michael Vick in the locker room for rib X-rays, his return questionable.

Vick was sandwiched at the goalline between Kareem Moore and DeAngelo Hall, after a darting 23-yard scramble that was negated by a holding penalty on Max Jean-Gilles. Jean-Gilles started at right guard for Nick Cole.

Donovan McNabb just drove the Redskins for a field goal, the key play of the drive a 57-yard bomb on third and 15 to Anthony Armstrong, with rookie safety Kurt Coleman lost in space.

Earlier: Donovan McNabb just led the Redskins 78 yards in nine plays for a 14-0 lead with 4:47 left in the first quarter.

So far, it's hard to see what the Eagles' defense spent the week doing. They sure don't seem to have prepared for Clinton Portis, or for McNabb throwing to Chris Cooley, who burned Stewart Bradley on a 31-yard touchdown on third and 5.

McNabb would have had the TD earlier in the drive if a wide-open Fred Davis could have flagged down a high pass.

Riley Cooper of the Eagles is out with a concussion, leaving the team with three healthy wideouts.

Earlier: A 53-yard punt return set the Redskins up at the Eagles' 39, and it took just three plays for them to take a 7-0 lead. Ryan Torain ran over Quintin Mikell en route to a 12-yard TD.

Earlier: Of all the greetings Donovan McNabb enjoyed, or endured, none, perhaps, was as significant as his first.
Mayor Michael Nutter waited for 15 minutes outside of the Redskins' locker room, waited for McNabb to emerge. When McNabb came out, wearing an opponent's No. 5 for the first time at the Linc, Nutter hailed him. Helmeted and cleated, McNabb stepped through the barrier and the pair exchanged a handshake and hug, well wishes and smiles.
And so the city's top pol -- who sat on City Council for much of McNabb's run as the city's top jock -- made sure that McNabb's return would, at least, begin with a warm and grateful reception.
"The guy gave it his all, 11 years," the mayor told the Daily News. "I did it out of respect."
Nutter wore an Eagles cap.
When he then took the field, McNabb was cheered by the smattering of fans in the stands.

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The inactive Eagles today will be the same as last week, except linebacker Omar Gaither is in uniform, and running back Joique Bell is not.